Nominations for Customs and Handmade Knives Moderator

[Kohai999]

Derrick,

Darby is the Moderator of Customs and Handmade Knives s/f on BladeForums. He hasn't posted much in years.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[SharpByCoop]

If this forum was out of control indicating that a dedicated moderator was seriously needed, Blade Forums management would look for someone with the right temperament, who knows as many of the participants as possible however has no allegiances, someone who knows custom knives, and is able to spend an abundance of time here so as they can see the problems developing and recognize the folks who are usually are involved and are instigators.

The problem is, the people who will be good at something (such as yourself), are usually too busy to take on new responsibilities. The right person would probably need to be paid as it’s a thankless position that requires a lot of time. Frankly, I don’t know why anyone would want the job.

Kevin: Really good post there. Thanks for this clarity. Strong points I am almost in agreement with. Although, one doesn't have to be a C&H Superman, nor be paid. LOL!

That said, I completely agree with Roger's take, also.

Does a forum really need to be 'out of control' to justify the addition of a dedicated moderator? I don't think so. The upside of a dedicated moderator who is already an active participant on the forum is that they will likely already be "here" and have an opportunity to act both quickly and proactively on the relatively rare occasions where action is needed. They would be doing so within the context of having a sound knowledge of the subject matter of the forum, as well as a familiarity with forum dynamics and personalities. I'm still waiting to hear what the downside is - maybe someone could help me there.

...especially the final sentence. There is a perception of a moderator acting as a warden. NOT if we had one of our own 'kind'. Right?

I see a mod as a plus. Value added. Others see it as a negative.

Coop

 

[Lorien]

A moderator who approaches the job for all the right reasons is good by me. Any mod who likes to throw their weight around won't be well received and would do more harm than good, imo.
Maybe a probationary term would be a good way to start. If, after a year, the mod fails to live up to expectations they get turfed.
With that bein said, this ain't our decision anyway, but I've found this to be a good discussion nonetheless.
Thanks for bringing it up Steven.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Kevin: Really good post there. Thanks for this clarity. Strong points I am almost in agreement with. Although, one doesn't have to be a C&H Superman, nor be paid. LOL!

That said, I completely agree with Roger's take, also.

...especially the final sentence. There is a perception of a moderator acting as a warden. NOT if we had one of our own 'kind'. Right?
I see a mod as a plus. Value added. Others see it as a negative.

Coop

What is our own kind? We have partisipants on this forum who would make very good moderators and some who would make very bad moderators.

Since you are both so keen on the appointment of a moderator perhaps you both should volunteer your services. Oh, if only all problems were solved so easily.

Anyway, don't know what if anything will be accomplished by this thread. Blade Forums is a business and like most business issues management will make the decision. I don't expect Kevin grew the BF into what it is today by making bad decisions, I'm confident that all will be well, regardless of the outcome.

 

[RogerP]

A moderator who approaches the job for all the right reasons is good by me. Any mod who likes to throw their weight around won't be well received and would do more harm than good, imo.
Maybe a probationary term would be a good way to start. If, after a year, the mod fails to live up to expectations they get turfed.
With that bein said, this ain't our decision anyway, but I've found this to be a good discussion nonetheless.
Thanks for bringing it up Steven.

I agree that it's been a good discussion, and I am grateful to STeven for bringing the issue forward. You are right - the LAST thing we need is a bad mod - I've seen the 'mod throwing his weight around' situation before - I don't waste my time in forums like that. One of the main benefits of this discussion has been an illumination of the qualities that define the type of mod who woud make a valuable and positive contribution to the custom knife community as embraced by this subforum.

 

[2knife]

In a recent thread, on split backspring whittlers , see here : http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017067-Split-Backspring-Whittlers?
Rproctor was disputing the nomemclature, offering his arguements. I didnt see his arguements as unwarranted- he was told quit derailing the thread. One more comment and he was infracted and his follow up post was removed. I found this an excessive heavy-handed response. Indicating what moderators can do, swinging their hammer at anyone who disagrees..

 

[sheathmaker]

2knife, I went back an read the entire thread just to be sure I remembered it correctly. Roland ignored the warning flags and just kept picking at the scab. Hell, you only get three strikes in baseball. Roland had that many and maybe more. Elliot, the mod you refer to, not so subtly, did nothing I would consider out of line and certainly not "Police brutality".

I apologize in advance if my post would be, or is considered off topic, but since it did concern this Forum and the subject of moderators, I thought it would be okay. On a personal note, David, if you want to discuss my post further, take it off line. I'm easy to find.

Paul

 

[Don Hanson III]

In a recent thread, on split backspring whittlers , see here : http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017067-Split-Backspring-Whittlers?
Rproctor was disputing the nomemclature, offering his arguements. I didnt see his arguements as unwarranted- he was told quit derailing the thread. One more comment and he was infracted and his follow up post was removed. I found this an excessive heavy-handed response. Indicating what moderators can do, swinging their hammer at anyone who disagrees..

Rproctor and Blues have history and it goes back a ways...

 

[RogerP]

2knife, I went back an read the entire thread just to be sure I remembered it correctly. Roland ignored the warning flags and just kept picking at the scab. Hell, you only get three strikes in baseball. Roland had that many and maybe more. Elliot, the mod you refer to, not so subtly, did nothing I would consider out of line and certainly not "Police brutality".

I apologize in advance if my post would be, or is considered off topic, but since it did concern this Forum and the subject of moderators, I thought it would be okay. On a personal note, David, if you want to discuss my post further, take it off line. I'm easy to find.

Paul

Agreed.

 

[Blues]

In a recent thread, on split backspring whittlers , see here : http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017067-Split-Backspring-Whittlers?
Rproctor was disputing the nomemclature, offering his arguements. I didnt see his arguements as unwarranted- he was told quit derailing the thread. One more comment and he was infracted and his follow up post was removed. I found this an excessive heavy-handed response. Indicating what moderators can do, swinging their hammer at anyone who disagrees..

2knife, I went back an read the entire thread just to be sure I remembered it correctly. Roland ignored the warning flags and just kept picking at the scab. Hell, you only get three strikes in baseball. Roland had that many and maybe more. Elliot, the mod you refer to, not so subtly, did nothing I would consider out of line and certainly not "Police brutality".

I apologize in advance if my post would be, or is considered off topic, but since it did concern this Forum and the subject of moderators, I thought it would be okay. On a personal note, David, if you want to discuss my post further, take it off line. I'm easy to find.

Paul

Gents, I'm not sure that this is a discussion pertinent to this thread but since you bring it up I may as well add some clarity.

Roland decided to be a bit ham handed in trying to make the point (repeatedly) that a true split back whittler was of a certain type of construction (historically).

Don Hanson, very diplomatically, made a statement backing up my previous remarks that the term is used in common parlance by both makers and collectors even when it doesn't apply to old Sheffield style knives. (I had already conceded the point that Roland was making, as did Don. At that juncture there was no reason to belabor the point.)

He went on to make the same point multiple times. I asked him to desist. The posts that were removed from the thread (and moved to the moderator's section) were one where he was being argumentative by stating "well at least it was the right forum as I displayed a custom knife" (or words to that effect) and finally a post decrying my outrageous conduct for having done so and issuing him an infraction for trolling in the thread.

What led to his being banned were multiple PM's sent overnight in which he made several insulting and disparaging remarks of a personal nature. Not one moderator took issue with the infraction he received for his actions after reading the quoted material. (He has been warned for the same type of behavior on multiple occasions over the past couple of years...not only by me but by other moderators.).
In the end he was held responsible for his actions and statements. Nobody but Roland is responsible and he was given many opportunities to rein his behavior in.

I would never have brought this up in this thread but if folks are going to bring it up for discussion then they should base their thoughts on what really happened as opposed to speculation in the absence of facts. (The "Tech Support" section of the site remains the proper area to discuss the forums, policies and administration. This keeps the discussion forums free to pursue their stated purpose.)

 

[Lorien]

oh, the many layered onion that is Bladeforums...

 

[Kohai999]

On that note, I will close this thread.

If anything this thread revealed that everyone can have a strong opinion, not agree, and STILL be right.

Welcome to the Customs and Handmade Knife subforum of BladeForums, the only forum on the web where I am a regular contributor.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson